Chapter 2: The connections...

Francis POV

As the business meeting is done with the Williams Group, Franz decided to go home. He was driving as he recalls his coincidental meeting with that girl called Jamie.

It gives him the feeling of longing for an affair. A feeling to be loved by her. Franz can't explain those things, all that he knows is that he started to feel incomplete, meeting her is not a good idea... It's a reminder of his dark past with his ex-wife Kiara, the time when he was once hopelessly romantic in love until the day comes when he doesn’t even know what to believe anymore. What's real and what is not? All of the things just come eroded and became horrible memories of the past now.

He never wants to have a relationship to be failed in return because if he does trust me he will put all his efforts into that relationship, but Kiara didn’t realize that! She never cared about me or even our kids. He was the only one investing in that relationship, and it's sad to admit that it's a one-sided love.

Only now does France realize that he was too overwhelmed with the relationship but in reality, Kiara never put an effort into it. She never even bother to ask me how I am, that’s the time she was having an affair with Liam her bodyguard.

He never expects that time will come when he discovers that illicit affair they had.

It was truly a nightmare of my past.

That always haunts me not just in my dreams but also in my present existence. Who would believe that Francis Ribbs will betray and hurt ber his bodyguard and wife? It's the most humiliating headline that has been circulated in the whole country. The one he trusted his family's security would be the one who attacked him at his back. That relationship has drained my trust in anyone completely.

Franz became cold, distant, and doubtful. He never wants to be like this. That relationship changes him a lot, and sometimes I questioned myself... Am I that bad husband? That’s why she betrayed me just like that...

Don’t I deserve to be loved? When we divorced I was the one who sacrifices, It has been approved on the ground that I was the one who can’t provide the things that she needed.

Franz was the one who is psychologically incapacitated.

And she makes him feel that, even though she was the one who made mistakes.

Even though she was the one who had an affair with her bodyguard.

I felt like I was down then, thankfully my family help me to stand up again…

They were the ones who pulled me up from the unending abyss I was in. It's never easy to recover from that experience. They were the ones who encourage me, especially my mom, she was the one who witnesses the day I was down and dying… It feels like I already wanted to die, questioning my purpose in life. But mom, made me realize what happened is not only my fault, we both have lapses…

Not just me, Mom open my eyes that the woman I married betrayed me and continued life with pride. Yes, I am a man indeed but in my relationship with Kiara, she is the boss. I doted on her so much that she forgot how to respect me.

I still have constant contact with my children. I was so thankful to them that even though their mom and me not okay they didn't involve themselves. I make sure that both of my children feel the love that I have for them.

I always call them before and after they went to school. Especially Frianna is like a lamp that lights up my way, her cheery character makes life lighter. My children are open to the possibility that soon I will find a woman who will love me and take care of me the way that I can.

I was back to reality when I saw that I was almost at the airport. As I immediately step out of my service care and went inside, Nate called me to ask where I was, and I told him I was on a business trip. We chatted until I remember the incident at the Willian group a while ago. Jami1s innocent face keeps resurfacing in my mind.

I told him slight info I gather about her for the latter to have an idea of where to start. I gave him her plate no.  and everything. But instead, he was teasing and making me his laughing stock.

Is this my friend? I asks myself as I was walking.

I can`t stop myself to feel annoyed.

“Investigate that woman for me!” Franz orders him with a serious tone. But still, he is laughing nonstop.

“What? Are you going to make fun of me?

“No, I was just shocked… With the fact that you’ve been amazed by a girl. The Mighty Francis! Hahaha”

“Could you be more serious! I’m asking you if you could help, if not then you already know the consequences!”

“Oh-aaaaahhhhh! Calm down, of course, I’ll be willing to help… Ok, I`ll do it… expect the result tomorrow.”

“I’ll call you when I got home.”

“Alright bye!” he put the cell phone on his packet and enters the airport automatically the staff greeted me and do the processing immediately.

They know me well, as Franz enters the private plane some of the employees look at him like he is prey that anytime they can eat him like delicious food. As a thing ok we prepared to go back to California.

And he arrives safe and sound, Franz got off the plane with his feet like he was flying, and his mood is better knowing he expects Nate's result and that he didn’t disappoint him. Franz saw him waiting at the airport lounge for him… He knows me well…

As Franz approaches him he smirks and makes side remarks.

“So how is the trip?” he looked at him still teasing as he keeps on smiling.

“What! Stop that will you…” he draws his wrist and bumps it into his chest…

“Tell me about her!”

“No,” Franz said with authority and he didn’t ask any further. Nate knows me well, if I want my affair to be private he just takes some time…

And spare me with questioning, “ ok then.”

“Now hop in,” Nate said to him. As he willingly obliges.

“ So, did you get some information about her?” As he rests his back on the car, to relax his tensing whole being.

“Yeah! Just curious… What's with this girl and you make me investigate her? Did she offend you?”

“No, just another way around… I’m just curious about her that’s all!”

“C'mon Franz I know you well enough, Did she catch your attention? Oh well, don’t speak! I know she’s beautiful and sexy, and...” he said with a teasing voice and had been cut out, to see Franz dumping him a glared look. And if look can kill then he was dead right at the moment.

" I just wish this one wouldn’t be like Kiara, I will be lonely for you if they will be the same. I know You’ve suffered a lot already and I don’t want you to feel down again…"

"How would you know?" Franz asks him he just gives me a smirk..."That's not gonna happen again, and besides, I need to focus on my two daughters... They are enough." 

As he said that, he feels so bothered that the look Jamie like being chased by a monster a while ago makes his day...

He smiles as Nate can't see his look. He liked that girl, he said to himself... I will get her, with a sinister smile on his face. He has a feeling of connection with that girl, but he doesn't know why... 

"Have you gathered information about her?" He asks Nate,

"It's in here" he waves the folder and gives it to him.

"Easy!" He said... "Or do you want me to read aloud?" He said in a mocking tone.

"Nah! You'll never do that!" Franz said to him.

"Yeah! I know..."

As we arrived at my home, he decided to go home too. Because he knows I'm tired from the long trip.." I'll see you tomorrow! Ok?" Nate said as he turned around and leave. Franz nodded a response to his friend.

Franz sit on the couch and decided to read the content of his report. It says that the girl's name is Jamie Lynn Langford, 33 years old, and she's from NY. Studied at Michigan University with a course in Advertising Management but why did she prepare to work for Williams? As a CSR? Questions pop into my mind. All the basic information about her is in the details but one thing has caught my attention there was extra info about her, a background summary of her!

He was so amused that Nate gathers more info about her as if he did a background check on her.  As he goes on he was puzzled about why did she prepare to work in CSR when she graduated from a degree course.

So strange... There will come a time I'll ask her about this...

His enthusiasm for her gets even more heightened, and all he can think about all night is ton how to approach her without making her angry, he will start with Williams. Franz knows her well. He closes the files and decided to go upstairs to clean up himself and prepare for bed. He is alone in his house because he can't live with others since he was divorced from his ex-wife.

He prepares to live alone since then, the housekeeper just comes in to clean his house every day but she is not staying there, Franz just gives her his spare keys so her to have free access to the house, It is a modern villa which he prefers to make him feel at home even if his alone it feels like he still with our house back home with my mom. Yes! My mother is still alive, I have a sister named Freya, and our father is already passed away. So I was the one managing our company. The Famous Ribbs Company has a lot of branches now, in stock markets, Building infrastructures, Restaurants, Hotels, Bars, and Resorts that were some of my family's businesses.

My family has a high status in the society of California but my mom teaches us to be low-key always. In terms of businesses, we are the most powerful in it, but as usual, when you are powerful, You are most watched not just in the business world but also in the media. Franz's identity is always a secret in the media.

Franz is not into public appearances he makes Nate go to a lot of entertainment engagements to cover up his identity. Only in that part but about the business he makes sure, his is hands-on. They told me Franz is a monster in the business world and that's true...

But I'm only a monster to the people who don't deserve to be treated well, people sometimes do evil things to people who only know how to fight fairly. And Franz he defends them and maintains justice for what is right for them, he is not that heartless after all...

In the business world, when people saw you as a weakling you will be easily get beaten but when your as wild as a lion you will be saved...Nobody could defeat you easily. The matter of my family has been sealed to the media as Franz makes it very private. He was mysteriously concealed because that's what he wants.

Some media is trying to go behind his radar but they can't do anything when he doesn't want it... Franz's words against theirs? He doesn't think so...

Even politics tried to encourage him to be with their lined up but he declined, Franz will never join a war that he knows he is not good at... Franz is a businessman, not a politician, for God's Sake! He will do it his way... 

Even if Franz is like this he makes sure that his employees get the fair benefits that they deserve, especially when their performance deserves a price...